Forget your no-carbs diet because you read that right: Rice & Dough will have a menu of carb-laden goodness, perfect for what they call: carbivores.

Spectrum is where families should be at for Sunday brunches because they’re running the Awesome Sunday Brunch for the second time! See how the kitchen’s creativity runs wild as they take the iconic toy brick’s inspiration to new culinary heights while mixing them with equally iconic Philippine landmarks.

I think this video sums up how French people in Manila feel every time they step in and taste the mastery of Chef Marc Aubry of Champetre:   It is from this animated movie named Ratatouille, where this awfully critical food writer by the name of Anton Ego is almost brought to tears as he tastes the French dish of the same name as the movie title, and the first bite…

If there is one thing that baffles us here, it’s the ramen craze. In a hot and humid country like the Philippines, how can something like a piping bowl of hot ramen be the solution to the heat? And yet, waves upon waves of franchises straight from the Land of the Rising Sun set foot in places of high prominence to get attention in Manila. This is not one of…

ALL THE STEAK YOU CARE TO EAT.       So few statements have that much impact to so many people. Not to isolate the people who don’t eat meat, but the carnivore craving in majority of the population speaks to an inner and very elemental essence in life: To be sustained to survive. Of course with modern living these are not as obvious given the varied selection especially of…

In the past years, Kettle has proven to be one of the more popular casual restaurants in the metro, thanks to its food having familiar flavors but given little twists and flairs to make the taste unique but not veering far from its essence. Case in point? Their buttermilk fried chicken is the gold standard for fried chicken. It has made a believer of critics. So when the team behind…

So much trends in the Manila food scene over the past few years that people have even rated that Manila is one of the best places to be a foodie. Yet, one thing seems to have been neglected in this deluge of gastronomic concepts. The simplest of comfort food, the grilled cheese, has been vastly overlooked. Some people will argue that there’s nothing to change with the classic cheddar on…

Your normal get-together with friends usually consist of either a night out with fine food and drinks, or at home, also with fine food and drinks. How about a gig where you get to cook some fine food? Yes, you can still have drinks while doing so. And it is quite fun and relatively easy as well, as Marmalade Kitchen shall demonstrate. Marmalade Kitchen is located at that the relatively…

AS OF JANUARY 3, 2015, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THIS PLACE HAS CLOSED. Looks like the Mesclun brand is gaining legs and growing. The very first Mesclun branch was actually inside the Linden Suites, established some time late of 2012. Relatively hidden, those who took the effort to get to it though are rewarded with possibly the best sisig-cream pasta in the metro, partnered with comforting flatbreads and a deliciously…

It is obvious that Rustans is not the main shopping destination of the people behind this blog as it was only this year of 2014 was it discovered that there are restaurants in EVERY LEVEL of the Rustans Department Store in Makati. Well how about that? You don’t even have to leave a floor if you need to get some grub after some laborious luxury shopping. But the one that…

How does one begin describing a very simple thing such as a hamburger, yet convince everyone that what you are sharing may be one of the best damn burgers in Manila? Maybe it is good to start that it is not found in the swanky places or five star hotels. Maybe it is good to say next that its environment is so inviting, that making yourself comfortable and assuring of…

Could this be true? Well, if it is not a real answer to the cronut, then it is for sure an answer to all the cronut copycats. With the cronut of Dominique Ansel copied at every corner of the world requiring him to patent the name and its method of cooking, maybe it is time to look beyond that and search within for some inspiration. Take this Ensaymada-nut. The regular…

It is an unforgiving world out there. The working population is always battered with endless barrages of pressure, urgency, competition, and people who feel like they will be devoured if they do not do what is required of them. And that is just the commute to the office. It would be nice if each one of us had a go-to place for those times when everything just feels a bit…

Here at En Route, it’s all about simple, homey, comfort food dishes that any man or woman is bound to love (this is also because this is the most we can cook with our current abilities. Those manchego souffles and tomato confit ala Lolo Dad’s still need to be practiced). But for this dinner set, it’s all about a manly dinner consisting of meaty, cheesy, and boozy goodness that every…

It’s been quite some time since a burger joint has been in topic here. While there are some that has its fans, it will be BRGR: The Burger Project and the sadly closed Boulevard Diner ( which has now morphed into Burger Company in Quezon City. Gotta schedule a visit ) where loyalties will lie. In all the searching in Makati, one name kept on blipping on the burger radar…

First impressions when seeing a pint of Guinness is the anticipation of that refreshing moment as you drink a properly poured pint of this world famous beer.   First impressions when seeing a tray of Baked Macaroni with Cheese is tasty comfort food. Maybe good for those rainy days.   It is a far cry to think that Guinness be made part of a baked macaroni recipe aside from being…

There was this errand for car repairs that needed to be done near the Malugay / Yakal Street area of Makati City to coincide with a lunch break, so it called for a quick, no-frills, comfort food lunch mission. Recently someone suggested to try out Wingman at The Collective. This was a familiar area, too, as Offbeat Cafe and their non-conformist burgers and sandwiches were also found in this hipster…

  For those who frequent the Salcedo Weekend Market in Makati, there is a high chance that you would have come across the Hillside Ranch brand of Roasted Beef Belly and Corned Beef. These are succulent chunks of bovine that have been sacrificed for the ever demanding consuming public. An invite for a taste test of these Hillside Ranch beauties was held at Trellis in Makati City. Apparently, the purveyors…

Power Lunch is often defined as a somewhat high-level business networking / meeting / congregation over an extended lunch period. This lunch period can last somewhere to the tune of three hours, as you build your case or continue your networking engagements in the hopes of achieving results. Some even go all the way until Happy Hour starts (which is really a GREAT excuse for that power lunch session). The…

During one get together, a good friend mentioned that there is this brand of home-made, non commercialized ensaymada and cheese rolls that just need to be ordered as a small treat once in a while. It comes from Pampanga so it needed some advanced booking if ever you wanted to get a piece of it. Friends said that it was well worth the trouble. If our experience with Yulo’s Strawberry…

If you haven’t been to Fort Bonifacio over the past year, you will find that the old Pier One bar has now been replaced by a more permanent looking structure that houses some new goodies that is reviving that side of The Fort Strip. On the higher floors, URBN Bar and Kitchen has been attracting the partygoers looking for the trendiest place. You will see it’s named URBN Bar and…

If you get to step into the Marina Bay Sands shops in Singapore, the prestige and exclusivity just fills the air the moment you open those huge glass doors. It really is for the more discerning and aspirational market. Part of such attractions are not just the boutique clothing and accessory shops. Discerning culinary havens are part of it too, so the demand is satisfied by celebrity chefs like Wolfgang…